Sharjah Chamber And Kurdistan Federation Of Chambers Strengthen Economic And Investment Cooperation

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently hosted a significant meeting with the Kurdistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (K-FCCI) from Iraq's Kurdistan Region. The gathering aimed to enhance economic cooperation between the UAE and the Kurdistan Region, focusing on strengthening investment ties and developing joint initiatives for economic growth.

During the event, Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the Federation of the UAE Chambers and Chairman of SCCI, welcomed the delegation. He highlighted Sharjah's substantial investment presence in Kurdistan, particularly in energy and gas sectors. Al Owais noted that Kurdistan's favourable investment climate encourages UAE businesses to explore further economic collaborations.

The meeting emphasised enhancing trade and investment exchanges between Sharjah and Kurdistan, focusing on high-growth sectors and logistics integration. The Kurdistan delegation presented the region as a vital commercial gateway to Iraq. Meanwhile, Sharjah highlighted its role as an industrial hub, aiming to leverage its strategic location for re-exporting Kurdistan goods globally.

Dr. Mohammed Shihab Mohammed Amin, leading the K-FCCI delegation, expressed gratitude for the warm reception by SCCI. He praised Sharjah's urban and economic development, emphasising the importance of studying the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre’s model for potential replication in Kurdistan to improve commercial dispute resolution frameworks.

Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al Echlah provided insights into the operations of Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre "Tahkeem". He detailed its advanced dispute resolution mechanisms and smart digital platform services, positioning Sharjah as a regional leader in technology-enabled arbitration and investor-friendly legal services.

The meeting also explored ways to utilise Sharjah’s free-zone advantages to facilitate re-exports from Kurdistan to international markets. This strategy aims to create added value for both regions while supporting food security and economic diversification efforts.

The visiting delegation included notable figures such as Gailan Haji Saeed from Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Judge Shirwan Ibrahim Berdawood from K-FCCI’s Higher Supervisory Committee, Shivan Abdulrahman Aziz as Secretary General of K-FCCI, Kamaran Salah from Erbil Chamber’s Board, and Heman Farouk as Director General of Erbil Chamber.

Fostering Collaborative Initiatives

Humaid Mohammed bin Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE Chambers; Mohammed Ahmed Amin Al Awadi, Director-General of SCCI; Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al Echlah; and Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi were among those present at this pivotal meeting. They discussed collaborative initiatives aimed at reinforcing strategic partnerships between both regions.

This high-level meeting signifies a step forward in strengthening economic relations between the UAE and Iraq's Kurdistan Region. By focusing on mutual benefits through strategic partnerships and leveraging each other's strengths, both regions aim to achieve sustainable economic growth.

With inputs from WAM